VIDEO: Kingston Common Council Reaffirms Kingston as “Welcoming and Inclusive” in a Memoralizing Resolution.

VIEWFAQ Sheet and a copy of the memorializing resolution and letter from Kingston’s faith community.

We are pleased to bring you video from last night’s Common Council meeting, where more than 300 people turned out at Kingston City Hall. 62 speakers signed up to speak in support or in opposition of a memorizing resolution to reaffirm Kingston as a ‘welcoming and inclusive city’.

In the end, those who spoke in favor of the common council passing the memorizing resolution held a margin of about two-to-one.

VIDEO: 4 of 500:00 – 4:57: Ward 3 Alderman Rennie Scott Childress. ” Which side are we on? The tyranny of the federal government, or the freedom of the individual? Which side are we on? The selfish cynicism of insularity or the warm welcome of community. Which side are we on? The petty vindictiveness of the few or economic opportunity for all? I side with the freedom of a welcome and inclusive community for every one of us. For this reason, I will vote in favor for this resolution.”5:07 – 6:26: Ward 4 Alderwoman Nina Dawson. “To speak out as the Mayor is doing with this resolution shows true character. Thanks for your patience (to the audience). Hopefully, we are going to do the right thing tonight.”6:30 – 9:32:Ward 8 Alderman Steve Schabot. “I am going to tell you why I am going to support this…there is no such thing as irrational fear. Fear is fear. I can’t imagine anything worse in life than living in fear. If passing this resolution tonight alleviates even one person’s fear, then we have served our community well.”9:34 – 12:06: Ward 6 Alderman Tony Davis. “Sometimes, we have to agree to disagree. Is this resolution needed now? This resolution would not change how we do business in our community. My answer to this question is, Kingston has and will always be an inclusive city. No resolution is needed to do this. I am a no vote.”12:08 – 17:14Ward 1 Alderwoman Lynn Eckert.“I rise in support of the memorializing resolution to reaffirm Kingston as a welcoming and inclusive city. I do so for both pragmatic and principled reasons. The Chief of Police has stated that the memorializing resolution confirms what we already do. We don’t ask people about their immigration status for a variety reasons. One, it would hinder the ability of KPD to keep the city safe. People won’t call them for help or call them with information that they need to protect all of us. Two, the Supreme Court has handed down multiple decisions that limit or protect local governments from enforcing federal law. We have a system of federalism and the national government can’t commandeer states to do their job. Local police officers aren’t trained to be immigration agents and local tax dollars shouldn’t go toward supporting unfunded federal mandates. This resolution stops short of declaring Kingston a sanctuary city. Opponents argue that we’re doing something meaningless by passing this resolution: it’s only symbolic. I disagree. How do you know it’s meaningless? Have you asked the people who have been target of the President-elect if the resolution is meaningless? They’ll tell you “no” — it’s important. Moreover, you wouldn’t be here speaking so passionately against it if were meaningless. Instead, it is a statement by the most representative body of Kingston – the Common Council – that we will stand together as a community.That statement of our values will inform the decision-making on boards and commissions throughout city. Finally, I understand that hardworking, law-abiding people feel like they follow rules and yet they’re suffering, they’re struggling to make ends meet and no one is giving them a break. I think that’s right and I think it’s wrong that working and middle class people haven’t received an effective increase in wages since the 1970’s while CEO pay has increased exponentially. But, the target of your anger and fear shouldn’t be undocumented immigrants. The dirty little secret is that they are here because our economy can’t function without them. Don’t punish them — punish the policy-makers who made these decisions to enrich the top 1% and not fairly share it with the rest of us.”17:18 – 19:00: Majority Leader and Ward 5 Alderman Bill Carey. “I’m going to address the accusations that this memorializing resolution is ‘fluff’ or ‘meaninglessness’…it’s not meaningless to those who are effected.”19:02 – 21:19:Alderwoman Deb Browncontinues to be concerned with federal funding, and addresses Alderwoman Lynn Eckert (who is an Associate Professor of Political Science with a doctorate and an interest in Constitutional Law, American Politics and Political Philosophy) reading the article 6 of the US Constitution. Alderwoman Eckert responds, “There have been different definitions of federalism operating throughout American history….We argue about which particular theories of federalism to apply….The theory (of federalism) in operation in the past cases mentioned (Printz v. United States) is the idea of dual federalism. Where the state government operates in its realm where it’s given power, responsibility, and obligations, the federal government may not transgress. In a separate realm the federal government has its duties, obligations, and powers. We’re (the City of Kingston) not in anyway violating that (national power or supremacy). We are simply saying to the national government – this is your law, your realm of power and obligation, enforce it.”21:22 – 22:02 :Alderman-at-Large James Noble calls for the vote on the memorializing resolution “reaffirming Kingston as a welcoming and inclusive city.” It is ADOPTED 5/3. (IN FAVOR: Eckert, Scott-Childress, Dawson, Carey, Schabot. OPPOSED: Davis, Mills, Brown)

VIDEO: 5 of 5
Legislation and discussion on the fee schedule for metered parking and kiosks.